The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-04-08
"GYP'S" DECLARATION.


AU A00VM4ACOA4A
and Its Consequences
"An' / say, Jeremiah. it shall never
be kept here"
.Well, well. Katherine. Ill ride over
and ask the minister to tea, al well
60 by his judgement in this matter. but
Il does appear q pity to put as clipper
q lookin' gal as that in the poor
house"
The bone Of contention in the BIym
household was a babe that Pete, the
farm hand. had found. cuddled in .
blanket, sound asleep under the willow
hedge. Where it came from. or who
it belonged to-. no one knew; and for
years the birth and parentage Of the
Founding remained a mystery.
The minister expressed the same
opinion the farmer had, that il was a
pity such a child should be left to the
county poor.
AYE, Sister Blym," he exclaimed,
sscharity will bring a sure reward!'
And 80 s.Sister Blym." for the sake
Of standing well with the minister.
kept the child. What should it be
called was the next query; and rs no
one suggested a better name, because
OF her jetty hair and quaint, droll
ways the farmer dubbed her Gypsey,
which was soon abbreviated to Gyp.
No motherly love did Gyp receive,
but as soon as her childish hands had
strength, labor was required. and from
the farmers wife came a never-ceasing
refrain Of the chiId's u~nworthiness.
''Gyp! Gyp! it does beat all! Ez ! was
tcpin' Jeremiah. she don't ear her
salt. Where is the gal, anyhow" And
arms akimbo she stood in the doorway
~clancing in all directions for the one
just called.
Bounding up a path which ran from
the real Of the house to the ridge Of
widc-spreading oaks that gave the
name to the farm came the truant,
with d~ishcvcllcd hair and torn dress,
with shoeless feet, who. despite her
s~unbrowned limbs and untidy appear
ance. looked 80 picturesque with her
bright eyes and flushed checks that one
would have turned instinctively for a
second glance.
''Gypl" sounded from the inner re-
gions, s'whcre have you beenP' was
the q~uerulous greeting as she entered
the POOR. "Up to Shelbyvillc. Of
courscr'
mo. / was not" she answered. with
an effort at self-control. is II likely
I'd 60 in this drcss?" glancing at he'
tattercd garb.
ssOh. it's more fincry, i il! Now, i
you was my S~ophronia Ann, with I
schoolmastcr for a beau, you might asl
for better fixin's, but I'll teach you 4
be satisfied" And the strong hand o
the woman came down in rapid blows
not the first the poor girl had rcceivet
in her young life. Are you shocked
kind readcrP Gyp Is q characterd draw
from life. and we. knowing the hard
ness and bitterness OF her earlier years
rejoice At the sunshine that came later
But, contrary to all prior experience
Of Mrs. Blym, the young girl, VIII
heretofore received the unjust punish
ments with tho stolidity Of an OK. nov
turned like 4 tigrcss. ard, with sucl
swift dextcrity that they could not b
avoided. rained blow after blow upoI
the eyes. mouth and temple Of the Ia
furiated woman.
"Helpr" she called. realizing for ono
N her life she was getting the worst Q
bargain.
''What 10 the mattcrp' asked Sc
phronia, appearing upon the scene. bu
before a reply was given the farmer ca
tered.
What nowP' said he, seeing tn
signs Of unusual turmoil depicted upo
the faces Of all present.
''Oh, Jcrcmiarv' exclaimed his wifi
"Gyp will be the death u me We
Look At my facet and it's all 70,
fault, Jeremiah, for you're alway
takin' her part agin me-"
Farmer Blym carefully scanned h
wife's ~countcnancc, then. turning
the pcrpctrator Of the deed, who stoo
with ~quivering limbs and flashing eye
asked:
"What have you to say. Gypsyp
had not expected this Of YOU"
What have I TO sayP Muchv' a.
y seemed TO tho lookcrs-on that Il
"fcundling." as she had often be-
t~auntingly called. arose inches
height and years In womanhoo
This woman has abused me for Il
last time; henccforth l receive prop